REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: N1661299 (Northern Ireland)
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 108158
Report of the Trustees and
Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 December 2022
for
Portstewart Convention
Mccleary & Company Ltd
Chartered Accountants
Garvey Studios
14 Longstone Street
Lisburn
Co. Antrim
BT28 ITP

Portstewart Convention
Contents of the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 December 2022
Page
Report of the Trustees
Independent Examiner's Report
Statement of Finaneial Activities
Balance Sheet
Notes to the Financial Statements
9 to 13
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
14 to 15

Portstewart Convention
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 December 2022
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their
report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2022. The trustees have
adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities." Statement of Recommended Practice
applicable to charittes preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard
applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective l January 2019).
Introduction
The annual Convention in Portstewart has taken place each year from its inception in 1914 until the outbreak
of the Covid-19 pandemic. Because of the restrictions introduced by the Govemment to control the spread of
the virus there was no Convention on site in 2020 and 2021. The DAre¢tors were very ple&%ed that it w&$
possible to arrdnge an annual Convention again in July 2022.
Historically Portstewart Convention has been organised through a Trust bu( in 2019. it was incorporated
under the Companies Act 2006 as a private company, limited by guarantee with its registered office in
Northern Ireland. In June 2021 the new company w&8 registered with the Charity Commission for Northern
Ireland. On l January 2022 all the assets and business of the Trust were transferred to the new Company and,
therefore, this is the first Annual Report to be submitted to the Charity Commission by the Company.
The purpose of the Company, as set out in its registration with the Charity Commission, is identical to that in
the registration of the Trust. So far as attendees are concerned there should not be any noticeable change to
the ethos and the practical a￿angernents for the Convention.
Objectives and aims
In its application for registration with the Charity Commission the Company set out three main "tactical plans
and arrangements" which would be followed in order to achi¢ve the Convention's purpose.
The first of these plans is the effective marketing of the Convention. In 2022 this presented a greater challenge
than usual because there had not been a Convention gathering on site in the previous two years and so there
was a break in continuity. Some professional advice and assistance was engaged and a range of media was
used including the Convention's website and social media. While there is increasing use of digital resources
the composltion of Convention audiences requires the continued use of some more traditional methods. The
resulting attendance numbers did not reach pre-covid levels but were encouraging in the circumstances with
up to 800 people present on some evenings.
The second part of the plan
a suitable programme
followed a similar pattern to previous years and
continued to prove its effectiveness particularly in the consistency of attendanc¢ numbers throughout the weck
with people keen to hear the full sequence of teaching. Prayer and counselling facilities were used by people
wishing to consider the personal implications of the teaching.
The bookshop providing literature which complemented the teaching programme and a missionary exhibition
showing opportunities worldwide for practical Christian service both generated a good level of interest.
Scripture Union r¢turned with its well-structLtred programme for chlldren and young people. The coffee shop
on the site was well used and gave attendees the opportunity for social interaction when they could discuss the
content of the main talks. share life experiences, encourage one another and make new friends.
Page I

Portstewart Convention
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 December 2022
The third aspect of the plan is the maintenance of the marquees, the property and the site to facilitate the
annual gathering. The Directors are especially grateful to Cunningham Covers Ltd from Maghera who
maintain, erect and dismantle the marquees with professional expertise. Routine site maintenance work
continued.
Ground belonging to the Convention and adjoining the site was leased to Causeway Coast and Glens Council
and its predecessor organisations for 50 years and was made available for public car parking except for the
week of the annual Convention. The Council decided not to renew this lease when it expired on 29
December 2021. The Directors were pleased to reach an agreement with Car Park Services Ltd for the
operation of the car park on a pay and display" basis. The availability of this car parking area is critical to
the management of attendance at the annual Convention and the income generated throughout the year
makes an important contribution to Convention running costs.
The Directors recognise that there is no practical means to measure the full outcome of the week of
Convention. This can only be seen in the lives of people returning to their own homes and districts to live in
a manner which, in the words of the Convention's purpose, is God-honouring, helpful to and considerate of
others.
The Directors give thanks to God for the evidence of the Spirit influencing and changing lives
during the 2022 Convention.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial Review
As shown more fully in the attached accounts the Convention's income from all sources in 2022 was
£647,898. This included assets donated by the unincoryorated charity of £597,354, leaving £50,544 from the
charity's nornial activities. Apart from £4,717 received as donations to the Missionary Fund this income
was applied to the running costs of the 2022 Convention, the maintenance and improvement of the site and
to maintaining a reserve as a prudent provision towards future costs. The Missionary Fund income was
distributed in its entirety to the designated projects.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AfiD IVIANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee,
as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
The Company did not employ any staff during the year. It engaged around 50 volunteers in the organisation
of the Annual Convention.
The Directors wish to record their app￿CiatIon of the long service given to the Convention by Mr Oswald
Mitchell, following his retirement as a Director on 28 September 2022. After a number of years on
Committee he was made a Trustee in May 1987 and became a founding Director of th¢ new Company on its
incorporation in June 2017. He served as Convention Treasurer for a number of years. From a first
attendance at the 1931 Convention his has been a lifetime of commitment to the Convention bringing his
greatly valued wisdom drawn from his personal and professional life including that gained through a period
serving as a Missionary Doctor in Nigeria.
REFERENCE AND ADllItNISTRATIVE DETAILS
li
Registered Company number
N1661299 (Northern Ireland)
Page 2

Portstewart ConveDtion
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 December 2022
Registered Charity number
108158
Registered otrice
42 Rossburn Manor
Kells
Ballymena
Co. Antrim
BT42 3RB
Trustees
Rev Joseph Fell: Minister of Religion
Rev Johnston Rea Lamb¢.' Minister of Religion
Rev Darren Basil Mccorriston.. Minister of Religion
Mr James Lawson McDonald.. Retired Civil Servant
Dr Oswald H A Mitchell.. Retired Surgeon (retired 28.9.22)
Company Secretary
Mr David Preston
Independent Examiner
John Mccleary FCA
Mccleary & Company Ltd
Chartered Accountants
Garvey Studios
14 Longsione oir¢et
Lisburn
Co. Antrim
BT28 ITP
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 23 May 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
Mr James Lawson McDonald - Trustee
Page 3